Humidifying apparatus



Sebt. 15, 1925. I 1,553,370

G. w. D'ARCY HUM-IDIFYING A PPARATUS Filed Dec. '20, 1919 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 15, 1925.

G. W. DARCY BUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed Dec; 20,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @VEEF 1.5

11/1/1104 IIII Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED STA GEORGE w. DARCY, or Bos'ron, .MASSACHUSETTS.

HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS. V 2

Application filed. December 20, 1919. Serial No. 346,425.

To all whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, Gnonon \V. DARcY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Humidifying Apparatus, of which the following description, in con nection with the accompanying drawings, is a 1 specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts. i

This invention is an improvement in the apparatus shown and described in my prior Patent, No. 1,302,515, dated May 6, 1919. One object of the invention is to provide for controlling the amount of water delivered by the apparatus at different points under varying conditions of pressure and temperature, as on different floors ofa building or in different levels or slopes of a mine.

Another object of the invention is to provide for turning on and off and regulating the supply of water to each vaporizing device by controlling the pressure of the steam or air in the pressure pipe, thereby enabling the vaporizing devices to be located at various points along the pressure pipe and to be controlled from a single point, such as the source of pressure supply.

Another object is to out off the flow of water automatically at each vaporizer upon the failure of the pressure supply from accident or other cause, thereby p 'eventing damage to the premises from overflow at the vaporizing nozzles. Further objects and advantages of the invention appear from the following description.

In order that the manner of constructing and operating the invention may be understood I have shown the same in the accompanying drawings applied to an overhead vaporizing system in a building;- but the invention is not restricted to such asystem or location nor to the details of construction shown and described.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing thearrange- 11161113 of pipes and location of vaporizing and control apparatus for humidifying the air of a building of several stories;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the vaporiz ing apparatus shown suspended from an overhead support;

Fig. 3 is an axial section through the mixing and churning chamber drawn to alarger scale; and

topermit the vaporized water Fig. l is a similar section through the water regulating and shut-off valve.

The system comprises Fig. 1, a source of water pressure and a source of. air or steam pressure, both not shown, which maybe located at any convenient point on the premises, and which are connected: to the water supply pipe 11 and the steam or air pressure pipe 12 through mains and branch pipe lines provided with shut-01f valves 13, 1 1 respectively. The Vaporizers 15 are located at suitable points for treating the airin the various parts of the building, mine or other structure reached by the system, eachvaporizer being furnished with a suitable spray nozzle 16.

Each vaporizer, Fig. 2 is connectedto the fluid pressure pipe 12 by. a branch pipe 17 having a shut-off valve 18 and a check valve 19, and to the water supply pipe 11 by a branch pipe 20 provided with an automatic water shut-oil and regulator valve 21.

Preferably, Fig. 3,the vaporizer is similar to that shownlin my prior Patent No. 1,302 515, consisting of a. bodylhaving a chamber-'22 and provided with openingsin its end walls 23, 24: to receive the endsof the pressure pipe 17 and vapor discharge pipe 25, and havin'gan opening inits side or bottom wall to receive the end of the water supply pipe 38 connected with the branch pipe 20. -The "fluid pressure pipe 17, Fig. 3, discharges into the chamber 22 through a nozzle 26 which opens into the chamber through the end wall 23, and themixed fluid and Water or vapor. are dischargedthrough a mixing tube or nozzle 27 which is arranged in preferably substantial axial alignment with the nozzle 26 andextends out of the chamber through the opposite end wall 24. The nozzle 27 is larger than the nozzle 26 in order to accommodate the mixture of air or steam and water, and the inner end of the nozzle 27 is spaced: away from the end of the'nozzle 26 in order p to enter ,it from the chamber 22. i

The water shut-off and regulator valve 21, Fig.4, comprises a valve casing formed in two parts, a base 28 and a cover 29. The base contains a. chamber 3O to which water may be admitted from the water supplypipe 20 through a valve opening31 smaller than I the opening in the spray nozzle 16 to guard t-la ' against creating back pressure inthe chamber sufiicient to interfere with the working of the valve. The cover part 29 ot the valve casing and the spring adjusting, threaded bushing 32 carried by it together torn-1a housing for the moving parts of the Water supply valve 21. The valve 21 has a hollow stem 33 which carries an adjustable valve plunger 34. which is screw threaded to and extended through the hollow stem 33 and whichthus constitutes the. lower end of the valve stem and may be locked in adjusted position with reference to the stem 33'by means of a nut 35 on the plunger. The adjusting.

bushing .32., screw threaded plunger. 34 and lock nut 35 are, exposed outside of the casing where they maybe easily. reached for adjustment. i

Aliexible diaphragm 36, Fig. 4, of rubber or other. suitable material is attached by any convenient means asa nut 36 to the stem 33 of the. valve-2i, and is secured at its edges between the two abutting of the base 28 and icover 29 of the" valve 21, thereby closing the top of the chaanbe-r 301 in the base and permitting thediaphragm :to respond to the pressure. therein to open the valve against the pressure of the valve closing sprin'g37. The tension of the valve spring may be adjusted by turning the bushing 32 which is. screw threaded into the valve cover 29 and which 'alsb. serves as a-guide for the outer end of the valve stem. The diaphragm *3-6. and the valve parts may be removed from the base.2:8 by unscrewing the cover 29' without afiectilrg the adjustment of the valve spring and plunger. :The pressure chamber 30 is. inope'n communica tion with themixing and churning-chamber 22 through the pipe .38, whereby the pressure in the latter; will. be transmitted to vthe former.

The operation of the device is aslfollows: Air or steam pressure is. admitted. to "the branch pressure pipe-12 through the. main control valve 14 and thence. fi-ows' tov all of the Vaporizers upon the branchl 'h Some of the air. flows through the pipe 38 from the mixing and churning chamberwto, the

control valve 21, andapr'essing against. the flexiblediaphragm-lifts the stem 33 or the water control valve 21 off. .its'seat, the tension of the springupon the stem beingl sulficient to 'closethe valve opening against the water PIBSSLHeiI-l the water. supply. pipe 20 acting againstthe inner end-of the valve plunger. 34, butpnot suificiently great to; prevent the valve being lift'eid-from, itsseat by the water and air pressure in the chamber 30 acting upon the inner side of the'dia-f Thus, water is admitted to the phragm. chamber 30, and the water pressure beinggreater than the air pressure in the chain.-

ber, the water continues to flow through the opening 31 and pipe-38 to the mixing and churning chamber 22 and mingles with the air flowing through the discharge nozzle 27 to the spray nozzle 16.

The discharge of water through the spray nozzle may be. regulated by increasing or diminishing the fluid pressure in the pressure pipe as desired. By increasing the pressure in the pressure pipes 12 and 17 until it is sutficien-tly greater than the pressure in the water pipes 11 and 20 the flow of Water from the valve chamber 30 to the mixing and churning chanrber 22 Will be stopped, and dry air will be delivered from the spray nozzle. This is sometimes advantageous in dissipating smoke and nox'ious gases. which through accident may have found their way into the premises.

Upon cutting 'ofi the pressure in the. presi sure pipes 12 and- 17 the spring 3?? will close the water supply valve opening 31 and cut oil? the flow of water to the mixing and 'churning' chamber and spray nozzle, although the water will continue to how, after it has once started to operate, at a fluid pressure somewhat less than the water l pressure. The tension of the spring37 may be adjusted to suit thev water pressure. and the location of thevaporizer in the-system, and the valve plunger 34 maybe adjusted to permit the desired amount of water to be 1-.Hum'idifying' apparatus comprising in combination. with, a fluidpres'sure pipe and a water-supply pipe and a-spray nozzle, a vaporizer having a mixing chamber communicating with said spray nozzle and with the fluid pressurev pipe, a water regi'ilati ng valve in the water supply ipe having a pressurev chamber in communication with said mixing chamber and pressure responsive means associated with said pressure chamber for:opening said water regulating valve .upon admission of fluid. pressuIreIto said pressure chamber from said mixing chamber.

2. Humidifying apparatus comprising-in combination with a fluid. pressureqpipe and a-Water supply pipe and; a spray nozzle, a vaporizer: having a mixing. chamber cont mu nicating with said" spray nozzle. and with the fluid. pressurepipe a. water regulating vallve in the water supply pipe .hafving a pressure chamber in communication with said mixing chamber, a springior closing said valve against the water. pressure, means for adjusting the pressure. of said spring, and pressure responsive means associated with said pressure chamber for opening said water regulating valve upon admission of fluid pressure to said pressure chamber from said mixing chamber.

3. Humidifying apparatus comprising in combination with a fluid pressure pipe and a water supply pipe and a spray nozzle, a vaporizer having a mixing chamber coinmunicating with said spray nozzle and with the fluid pressure pipe, a spring-closed water regulating valve in the water supply pipe having a pressure chamber in communication with said mixingvchamber, and a diaphragm closing an opening tromsaid pres sure chamber, and connections between said diaphragm and valve for opening said water regulating valve upon admission of fluid pressur to said pressure chamber from said mixing chamber.

4E. Humidifying apparatus comprising in combination with a fluid pressure pipe and a water supply pipe and a spray nozzle, a vaporizer having a mixing chamber communicating with said spraynozzle and with the fluid pressure pipe,a water regulating valve in the water supply pipe having a pressure chamber in communication with said mixing chamber, said valve having an adjustable plunger for regulating the amount of opening thereof, and pressure responsive means associated with said pressure chamber for opening said water regulating valve upon admission of fluid pressure to said pressure chamber from said mixing chamber.

5. Humidifying apparatus comprising in combination with a fluid pressure pipe and a water supply pipe and a spray nozzle, a

vaporizer having a mixing chamber communicating with said spray nozzle and with the fluid pressure pipe, a water regulating valve in the water supply pipe having a pressure chamber in communication with said mixing chamber, said valve having an adjustable plunger for regulating the amount of opening thereof, a spring for closing said valve against the water pressure, means for adjusting the pressure of said spring, and pressure responsive means associated with said pressure chamber for opening said water re ulating valve upon admission of fluid pressure to said pressure chamber from said mixing chamber.

6. A fluid pressure control means for humiditying systems comprising vaporizers connected to a fluid pressure pipe and a Water supply pipe, said control means comprising a common fluid and liquid pressure chamber and operating upon a change in pressure in the fluid pressure pipe to shut oil the water supplyat each vaporizer.

7. A fluid pressure control means for humidifying systems comprising Vaporizers connected to a fluid pressure pipe and a water supply pipe, said control means comprising a combined fluid pressure inlet and outlet pipe and operating upon a reduction in pressure in the fluid pressure pipe to shut ofl. the water supply at each vaporizer, upon increase in fluid pressure to open the water supply, and upon further increase in pres-' sure to prevent the flow ofthe water and blow dry air through each vaporizer.

' 8. Humiditying apparatus comprising in combination with a fluid pressure pipe and a water supply pipe and a spray nozzle, a vaporizer having a mixing chamber communicat-ing with said spray nozzle and with the fluid pressure pipe, a water regulating valve in the water supply pipe having a pressure chamber in communication with said mixing chamber, and pressure responsive means associated with said pressure chamber for opening said water regulating valve upon'an increase of fluid pressure in said fluid pressure pipe.

9. Humidifying apparatus in combination a water pipe, a fluid pressure pipe, a vaporizer establishing communication between said pipes, a spraying nozzle. communicating with the vaporizer, and a water regulating valve in the water line normally closed against the waterpressure but responsive to open under combinedwater and air pressure.

10. Humidii'ying apparatus comprising in combination a water pipe, a fluid pressure pipe, a vaporizer communicating with said pipes, a spraying nozzle communicating with the vaporizer, and a Water regulating valve in the water line having a pressure chamber and connections thereto for admitting both air and water, and a valve therein normally closed against either water or air pressure but responsive to open under the combinedwater and air pressure.

11. Humidifying apparatus comprising in combination a Water pipe, a fluid pressure pipe in which the pressure is less than the pressure in the water pipe, a vaporizer communicating with said pipes, a spraying nozzle communicating with the vaporizer, a water regulating valve in the water line and a connection from the fluid pressure line thereto, said water regulating valve normally closed against either water or fluid pressure but responsive to the combined water and fluid pressure to open and permit continued flow of water therethrou h.

12. In humidiiying apparatus, the COIIlTfi nation with a spray nozzle of a water regulating valve connected thereto and compris ing a chambered body, a diaphragm cover.

therefor, a water supply pipe leading into said chamber, a fluid pressure pipe leading to the chamber, a valve stem on the cover normally closing the water pipe, but adapted to be raised to open said pipe by com bined water pressure on the valve stem and fluid pressure on the diaphragm.

comp rising 13. In iiumidi-fying apparatus, the com fluid and liquid pressure on the diaphragm and valve stem and also thereafter tore-V main raised by liquid pressure alone.

14. In humidifyi-ng apparatus, the combination with a spray nozzle "of a water regulating valve connected thereto and comprising a chambered body havinga liquid inlet, a liquid supply pipe leading thereto, aflui'd pressure pipe leading also thereto, a liquid inlet closing member, the liquid and fluid pressures, when in operation, both acting in the same direction, but one from Within and the other from Without the liquid inlet to move theclosing member therefrom.

15. Hunii'difyiir-ig apparatus comprising in combination a Water pipe, at fluid pressure pipe, a vaporizer establishing communication between said pipes and comprising a. mixing chamber, a restricted fluid pressure inletthereto, a combined" fluid and Water outlet therefrom, said inlet and outletp-roviding a path through the mixing chamber,

in angularrelation to the water inlet, a spray nozzle communicating with the var: p'oriz'er and a water regulating valve in the Water line constructed and arranged to be yieldingiy held closed against the Water pressure, but responsive to. open under combined Water and air pressure,

16. Huinidiifying apparatus comprising infcoinbination, the Waterpipe having the. outlet 81 therein and'flui'd pressure piiprefl,

a vaporizer 15 communicating with the pipes. '20 and 17, the spray nozzle 16 com:-' mimicating with the vaporizer 15-, the Water regulating valve 21 Communicating with the Water pipe and vaporizer 15, the valve 21 comprising the chamber 30, the cover 29 therefor, the valve stem 3-42 carrying the diaphragm 36. in said chamber 80, the valve stem 34: closing the water inlet valve '31 in the pipe 20, the sleeve'32 adjustable, in said top 29 with the spring 317 in said sleeve constructed-- and arranged to provide resili-. ent support for the valve stem 34 and'dia-i phragm 365andtoe-seat the stem 34: to close the Water opening 31 anda'to bera-ised to open said opening 31 by pressure in the chamber a a In testimony, Where0f,-;I-have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE W. DARGY. 

